News

Martin Luther King Jr. Day East Bay events calendar

Contra Costa Times

Posted:
01/17/2013 04:31:25 PM PST

Updated:
01/17/2013 04:40:01 PM PST

Alamo

Interfaith Peace Convocation -- 7 p.m. Monday.¿ This sixth annual event sponsored by the San Ramon Valley United Methodist Church will feature music from the Freedom Movement. The guest speaker will be Rabbi Michael Lerner, chairman of the interfaith Network of Spiritual Progressives, rabbi of Beyt Tikkun synagogue in Berkeley, and author of 11 books. Free admission and refreshments. Wesley Center at San Ramon Valley United Methodist, 902 Danville Blvd., Alamo. 925-837-5243.

Alameda

MLK Service -- The Alameda Race Violence Task Force and the Alameda NAACP will host the 34th annual celebration from 1-3 p.m. Monday in the council chamber at Alameda City Hall, 2263 Santa Clara St., third floor. This year's theme, "Where Do We Go From Here," will be delivered by a returning Alamedean, the Rev. Marvin White. The program will feature city official presentations, singing, dancing, speakers, and other special presentations. For details, call Judith Givens at 510-414-2433, or email judith_givens@yahoo.com.

ANTIOCH

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MLK Celebration at Deer Valley High -- The fifth annual Martin Luther King Jr. birthday celebration will be 1-3 p.m. Monday at the school's theater, 4700 Lone Tree Way. Antioch Mayor Wade Harper and Antioch Unified School District School Board President Joy Motts will continue the celebration with the support of business and community leaders. The celebration will include keynote Speaker Sylvester Henderson, gospel recording artist Alfreda Lyons-Campbell, comedian Lenard Jackson and student performances. For details, go to http://art4antioch.org/MLK-Program.asp, contact Diane Gibson-Gray at 925-325-9897, or email Diane@Art4Antioch.org.

El Cerrito

Parade and rally -- The city's 24th annual celebration opens with a parade at 9:30 a.m. Monday led by the El Cerrito High School marching band from the parking lot of the Department of Motor Vehicles at Manila and Kearney to El Cerrito High School, 540 Ashbury Ave., where a rally starts in the Performing Arts Center at 10:15 a.m. The program will include displays and speeches, along with music, dancing and other entertainment.

HAYWARD

March and Rally -- South Hayward Parish is sponsoring its 10th annual interfaith Martin Luther King Jr. Day march and rally Monday. It begins at 9:30 a.m. at Hayward City Hall Plaza, 777 B St. with music and words of King. A short march starts at 10 a.m., returning to the plaza for more music from the First United Methodist Church of Hayward, the First Tongan United Methodist of San Bruno and Congregation Shir Ami of Castro Valley.

Birthday Celebration -- Storyteller Diane Ferlatte will give a presentation during a free event marking King's birthday Monday at Chabot College's Performing Arts Center. There will be a preshow video at 4 p.m., with the celebration beginning at 4:30 p.m. Other performers include the Mount Eden High School choir, Palma Ceia Baptist Church choir and the Hayward Line Dancers. The event is sponsored by the city, Hayward South Alameda County NAACP, the school district, Chabot College and Friends of the Library.

Hercules

Community celebration -- Pioneering African-American television newswoman Belva Davis will be the special guest speaker when the Hercules Democratic Club hosts "Fulfilling His Dream: Celebrating the Life and Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.," a free program from 9 a.m. to noon Monday in the auditorium at Hercules Middle School, 1900 Refugio Valley Road. A complimentary breakfast is followed by the program, which will include addresses by Davis and by Denise Noldon, the new president of Contra Costa College. Performances will include song and spoken word, including singer Kristiana Sunga, the Hanna Ranch Children's Choir and St. Cornelius Choir, and speakers from the Hercules High School African-American Student Union.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service -- Martin Luther King, Jr. Regional Shoreline, 8:30 a.m.-noon Monday, Oakport Athletic Field, 5737 Oakport St. Volunteers will help restore the shoreline along Damon Marsh Trail with the removal of invasive species, and the planting of native plants. Volunteers will also have the opportunity to remove debris from the shoreline at this East Bay Regional Park District park. Please register in advance. Free admission. For details, go to www.ebparks.org/activities/events/Martin_Luther_King_Day_of_Service_2013_s_p1226?EventMode=View&amp;EventOccurrence=0.

10th Annual Bay Area Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service -- Celebrate King's life, while working to bring a positive change to the lives of the underprivileged, on Monday. Service locations for 2013 include The Gardens at Lake, 666 Bellevue Ave., 9 a.m.-1 p.m.; Madison Middle School/Sobrante Elementary School, 400 Capistrano Drive, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.; Fruitvale Community School/Lazear Elementary School, 824 29th Ave., 9 a.m.-1 p.m.; and annual MLK Day of Service Tree Planting, 27th and Market streets, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Additional sites and times to be added. Free admission. For details, go to www.mlkchallenge.org, sfpbayarea@gmail.com.

Dr. King's Legacy: Past, Present and Future -- Taylor Memorial United Methodist Church hosts the 15th annual MLK Day Celebration, with guest speaker Dr. Robert Michael Franklin, scholar-in-residence, Stanford University's Martin Luther King Jr. Institute and president emeritus of Morehouse College, from 1-3 p.m. Monday at 1188 12th St. A free community event. For details, call 510-444-6162 or go to www.taylorchurch.org.

PIEDMONT

Commemorative Program -- The community is invited to celebrate the life and works of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. beginning at 11:30 a.m. Monday at the Piedmont Community Hall, 711 Highland Ave. City leaders will speak, including Mayor John Chiang and school board President Rick Raushenbush. The Oakland Youth Chorus and Oaktown Jazz Workshop will provide musical entertainment.

Speaking event -- Olympic bronze medalist John Carlos, who raised a fist in political protest with fellow gold medalist Tommie Smith during a medals ceremony at the 1968 Olympics, will be the featured speaker at a Martin Luther King Jr. event at noon Monday at the Creative Arts Building at Pittsburg High School, 250 School St. Before the event, an 11 a.m. rally will be held at the Pittsburg Civic Center followed by a 11:30 a.m. march to the Creative Arts Building. Admission is free. Info: 925-683-5204

Richmond

Day of service -- Community groups are holding a "day of service, community, gardening and celebration" from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday along the Richmond Greenway between Ohio and Chanslor avenues from Sixth to 16th Street. The sixth annual MLK National Day of Service will feature 10 volunteer projects, community art projects, free food, a kids zone and live performance areas. Help rebuild garden beds on the greenway, plant spring gardens, take part in a mosaic or mural project, or help make signs pointing out local landmarks. Children can enjoy face painting, a petting zoo and other activities. Free valet bike parking available.

SAN LEANDRO

Community event -- Performing arts groups and student orators will be featured at a San Leandro community event Monday in celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. The free event will be held at 2 p.m. at the Marina Community Center on Wicks Boulevard. Students will perform memorized speeches, poems or essays honoring King's message of peace, tolerance and social justice for a chance to win prizes. Local writer, commentator and poet Daphne Muse will also make a special presentation. Light refreshments and crafts will be provided.

San Pablo

Contra Costa College event -- The annual African-American Staff Association celebration, "Honoring Heroes of the Civil Rights Movement," is 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday ¿at the John & Jean Knox Center for the Performing Arts at the corner of Castro Road and El Portal Drive on the CCC campus. Performers include Dimension Dance Theatre, the CCC Gospel Choir and children from the CCC Early Learning Center. The contributions and lives of civil rights figures such as Fannie Lou Hamer, John Lewis, Daisy Bates, Thurgood Marshall, A. Phillip Randolph and Hosea Williams will be the subject of speeches by CCC students.

Walnut Creek

Mount Diablo Peace and Justice Center event -- "Sowing the Seeds of Peace: Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration," noon Monday at the Civic Park Community Center Assembly Hall, 1365 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek. Keynote speaker will be the Rev. Donna E. Allen, founder and pastor of New Revelation Community Church in Oakland. Music by the Shell Ridge Ramblers.